Bob Johnston reads Justin Lee’s "The Death of Halloween" and explores Halloween’s origins in All Saints and All Souls, its links to Samhain, and how commercialization and social change drained the festival of its play, meaning, and communal purpose.

The episode calls Christians to recover a spirit of reverent play and communal memory—reminding listeners why Hallowtide once united the living and the dead and how that sacramental imagination might be restored.

Deacon Al explains how faith requires both God’s grace and our cooperation, using vacation-planning analogies and the readings for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Exodus, 2 Timothy, Luke) to emphasize persistence.

Hear practical encouragement to persevere in prayer, practice obedience, love your neighbor, and make daily choices that prepare you for a deeper relationship with Christ.

Email your questions to Deacon AL: goodnews@catholicspiritradio.org

Bob Johnston and Lynn explore scientific and spiritual perspectives on consciousness, from microtubule and quantum theories to organ-transplant cases, asking whether consciousness is produced by the brain or received from the universe and how this connects to Catholic faith.

They discuss research findings, personal stories, and the implications for identity, the afterlife, and the presence of good and evil in a mysterious, intelligent universe.

Bob Johnston and his wife Lynn discuss recent mass shootings, including the attack at a Catholic parish school, and examine cultural factors the episode links to rising violence—abortion, sexualized youth programming, and debates over gender identity.

The episode explores the idea of spiritual evil influencing society, calls listeners to rely on the sacraments (especially the Eucharist), prayer, and St. Michael’s intercession, and asks for support for Catholic Spirit Radio.

Deacon Al Lundy reflects on faith and preparation this fall — from gardening as a spiritual metaphor to reminders about confession and Advent, plus a station Fall Appeal announcement.

He answers a listener’s question about receiving Communion in the hand versus the mouth, explains the Church’s practice and canon law, and walks through the weekend readings that emphasize gratitude and God’s healing.

Email your questions to Deacon AL: goodnews@catholicspiritradio.org

Dr. David Anders shares his journey from evangelical Protestant scholar to Catholic convert and EWTN host, explaining how study, Scripture, and encounters with Catholic media led him to the Church. He reflects on the role of Catholic radio in evangelization, the need to support local stations, and how media reaches listeners who wouldn’t otherwise seek out the faith.

Anders also discusses his work on Called to Communion, his book about marriage and faith, and his hope that listeners will grow in gratitude, charity, and daily cooperation with God’s grace.

Bob Johnston (with his wife Lynn) returns to Being Catholic on Catholic Spirit Radio to examine modern secular utopias—how Marxism and wokeism fell short and how a new "geneticism" promises a technological utopia. Drawing on articles from First Things, the episode critiques IVF-based eugenics, embryo selection services like Orchid, and the social pressures that can turn private choice into public expectation.

The show also explores emerging bioethical dangers such as "bodyoids" and the erosion of a clear definition of death, warning against treating human life as a disposable resource. Throughout, the hosts frame these concerns from a Catholic perspective, emphasizing human dignity, the reality of suffering, and the limits of human attempts to remake creation.

Deacon Al Lundy uses stories about family, vacations, and planning to explore different ways people live their faith. Drawing on the readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Habakkuk, 2 Timothy, Luke), he highlights patience, perseverance, and the courage the Holy Spirit gives believers.

He challenges listeners to grow their "mustard-seed" faith, make room for prayer and worship in whatever way works for them, and serve with humility while trusting God’s timing and judgment.

Email your questions to Deacon AL: goodnews@catholicspiritradio.org